Okay but imagine being the team of Eridian scientists tasked with keeping Erid's Only Human alive for as long as possible while the whole planet's environment is literally trying to kill him. And then Rocky shows up and is like:
“Grace says he would like half of dome to be water.”
“Oh, is necessary for humans to have large amounts of water question?”
Small Eridian equivalent of a sigh. “No. Not needed for life. In fact Grace will die if he falls in water and does not get out.”
“Tell him we give him water in containers that won't kill him. Lots lots lots of water on Erid for Grace to drink.”
“No. Grace say he want water on ground. Also want it with excess sodium chloride compound so it will be unhealthy for drink.”
To celebrate Erid getting their sun back on track, Grace asks for some alcohol. There's a small amount left from the Hail Mary and Rocky offers to take it to the science Eridians to see if they can synthesise more.
“Grace want this liquid for celebration.”
“Of course.” They scan it. “You have wrong liquid. This contain compounds which are poisonous for humans.”
“Yes yes yes. Grace say humans like feeling of being slightly poisoned.”
The fact that Din Djarin, hardened Mandalorian warrior and bounty hunter, in the middle of a fight to the death against a gigantic venomous water snake that wanted nothing more than to eat him... Took one look at his son holding a grenade and that's what made Din react with "... Dank ferrick..."
Just thinking about it makes me cackle 😂😂😂
Din is such a daddy and knows his little gremlin so well! 😍🥹
(Also have to say I'm not a parent yet, but my heart also kinda stopped when I saw Grogu packing up grenades to take on the trip to rescue his daddy 😅)
Finally saw The Mandalorian and Grogu today! Brief review (with spoilers) below the cut!
I expected from the jump that the storyline would be designed for general audiences, including people who might not have watched the show, and that's pretty much exactly what it was: enough story beats from the show were spelled out that non-show/casual viewers could keep up, and for the show fans it basically fit as a side quest adventure.
It was a relatively low-stakes, self-contained story.
And I LOVED it!!!
It definitely re-tread the point from season 3 that Grogu is still learning from Din, and that Din is still the primary protector while Grogu mostly observes/learns, though Grogu is also becoming more capable and independent in his own right. And the point where Grogu agrees with Din that they should stay and fight the Hutts, rather than run, also felt similar to the season 3 finale against Gideon. So I can understand the criticisms that the movie didn't push Din and Grogu's relationship forward very much - though that personally didn't bother me at all. Sometimes it's okay for a story to continue exploring and spending some time on an established relationship as it is, rather than constantly changing the relationship dynamics. And it reinforced Din's evolving priorities and Grogu's increasing confidence and autonomy, which is enough to cover at this point in their story.
I do hope we get a season 4, because for various reasons I prefer this story as a show rather than a movie series; but this movie was a fun chapter and I'm glad we got it!
Just a few of my favorite moments:
✨"No, Grogu! Heel!" The way I cracked up laughing 🤣🤣🤣
✨ Grogu building an entire shelter for Din... and then trying to get Din to fit 😂🥹 Really, that entire sequence of Grogu doing everything he could think of to take care of Din just warmed my heart ❤️
✨ Din, in the middle of a battle against a gigantic water snake that is trying to eat him, saying "Dank ferrick" only when he sees Grogu holding a grenade (I mean, let's be real, that was pretty much my reaction too when Grogu packed the grenades to take with him)
✨ the X-wings showing up to back up Din
✨ Din's reaction to the Hutts threatening Grogu (protective daddy Din is best Din!!! 😍)
✨ I found it fascinating that Din's reaction to being forcibly unhelmeted by the enemy was pure defiance, that he's not shamed since he'll, uh, permanently silence all witnesses... And then he still asks Grogu for his input when the decision needs to be made whether to run or fight. Just read to me as another indicator that Din prioritizes Grogu above all else - even seeking revenge for a forced breach of his honor.
for years i have avoided star wars like the plague for a reason i dont even really fully understand, and i would never consider myself a star wars fan. i've seen some of the movies; the majority of the star wars media i have consumed is largely the original trilogy. but i recently just watched the new mandalorian and grogu movie in theatres.
for a lot of people, star wars is sacred. people grow up with it and know every detail, and they care about where the franchise goes next. i understand why people are so protective over it; i often feel the same about several other films and series, but at the same time, i think star wars fans can be their own worst enemies and are often times so hypercritical about every new release.
as someone that sits on the outside of the fanbase, i recently went to the new mando and grogu movie with my boyfriend, and since watching the movie, at the time of writing this i have started and finished the first two seasons of the mandalorian. as much of a bad rap the new movie is getting i think it stood out to me for a number of reasons. what immediately stood out to me about the movie was that it didn't feel overwhelming.
as an outsider to the star wars fanbase, a lot of the star wars movies can feel really intense if you're not already familiar with the universe, and similar to things like the mcu it can be incredibly scary to look at the dozens of films and series and have no clue where to start. there are so many characters, timelines, planets, family connections, and political story lines that sometimes it feels easier to give up before i have even begun to watch the movies or series.
now don't get me wrong; i love the depth that star wars has. i wish more films and series got the same kind of depth that star wars has; however, for casual viewers it can be exhausting. the mando and grogu movie and the series, for that matter – personally – feel way more accessible. you can watch it without needing a full understanding of any other film or series in the franchise, and i think that may be one of the biggest reasons why I and so many others enjoyed it. In fact, after the release of the mandalorian series on disney plus their subscriber number had surpassed over 100 million, with analysts crediting that to the mandalorian series.
of course, having background knowledge probably helps and makes it all the more exciting. but i think it's important to note that the show still works even if you don't catch every reference. at its core the series and even the movie are simple stories about a man protecting a child trying to survive in a dangerous world. that emotional and more heartfelt storyline is easy for anyone to connect with, regardless of how much of a diehard fan you are. mando and grogu's relationship carries the whole show and film, and it works because it feels genuine and emotional instead of overly dramatic.
i also think the tone of the film and series is what separates it from a lot of other star wars content. the movies are often built around massive galactic conflicts and huge political issues, which can sometimes make them feel so complicated and exhausting as someone that is newer to the franchise or just a casual watcher. whereas the mandalorian and grogu series and film feel more personal. the movie and series feel like a western. the main character enters a town, helps solve a problem, and moves on. It's simple in the best way possible.
the show doesn't consistently try to overwhelm the audience with giant stakes or non-stop action scenes. instead it focuses more on atmosphere, character development and emotional moments, which personally make it more enjoyable to watch.
din djarin is also just a compelling main character. he's not presented as some perfect hero or the "chosen one" destined to save the universe. he is flawed, quiet, and clearly trying to figure things out as he goes. that makes him feel a lot more relatable than some of the larger-than-life characters in the star wars movies. pedro pascal also brings an amazing amount of emotion to the role despite wearing a helmet for 99% of the series. the show and movie prove that you don't need massive speeches or dramatic monologues to create a strong emotional connection with an audience.
and obviously grogu became such a huge part of the show's success. grogu - also known as baby yoda - became a massive cultural phenomenon online, generating billions of views, memes, and social media interactions within months of the original series release. even poeple who had zero interest in star wars suddenly knew who he was, myself included. but i don't think grogu became as popular as he did just from being cute, although it certainly does help; i mean look at the little fella!
i think people genuinely connected with the relationship between mando and grogu. their bond gave the series and film warmth and emotional depth. a lot of modern franchises seem to focus so heavily on action and spectacle that sometimes they forget audiences also just want emotional storytelling. i truly believe the mandalorian and grogu sotry balances both really well.
whats interesting to me is how divided the star wars fanbase can be about newer content. every time a new movie or series comes out, there seem to be endless online arguments about how disney ruined star wars. some of the criticisms are definitely fair. disney has made some questionable decisions with the franchise. i think this was best seen with the sequel trilogy focusing on kylo ren and rey. i only watched two of the three films, but i think these films relied too heavily on nostalgia without fully knowing where the story was going.
with saying this, i honestly think parts of the fanbase can be way too hypercritical sometimes. it feels like some fans go into new projects already expecting to hate them, and then every small flaw becomes proof that the franchise is falling apart. but i think when you step back from all the online theatrics, there's actually been plenty of good modern-day star wars content. i truly believe the mandalorian is a huge example of that, but even shows like andor have been well received.
was the mandalorian and grogu movie an outstanding film? not nessicarly, but i don't think it is as terrible as everyone is making it out to be. would it have been better as another season rather than a film? maybe. but i guess we will never know, and i think the film served its purpose. it was adventurous and emotional, just like the series, and its variety is important because if lucas films and disney kept making movies exactly like the original trillogy i think everyone would be getting sick of the same formula.
we have seen the "hero's journey" done a thousand times with not only star wars but many other films and series. what i like about the mandalorian series is that they are more experimental with their styles and tones instead of constantly trying to recreate the original trilogy and its nostalgia. in a way i also think the series aspect of Star Wars works better. in movies, especially giant franchise blockbusters, everything can feel rushed because there's pressure to fit huge storylines into two hours. whereas tv shows allow slower storytelling and more emotional buildup, which is probably why i and many others became so attached to mando and grogu.
usually when franchises move from tv to film, there's a risk that the story becomes too big and loses what made it so special in the first place. i think this did happen in the film; however, i am not entirely mad about it. it was still an enjoyable film to watch. i believe the movie had a lot of potential and even more potential as a fourth season. the emotional connection is already there, which gave the story a strong foundation. it also helps that the mandalorian has managed to attract audiences outside the traditional star wars fanbase. people who normally wouldn’t watch a star wars series ended up loving it because it focused on universal themes like loyalty, protection, and connection rather than just franchise mythology.
honestly, i think the mandalorian proves that star wars doesn’t always need to rely on nostalgia or giant lightsaber battles to succeed or even draw in an audience. sometimes simpler stories are more effective. the series understands that emotional storytelling matters more than constant references and fan service. it respects the larger universe without making casual viewers feel excluded, which is something more franchises should learn from.
at the end of the day, i understand why hardcore fans are protective of star wars. it’s one of the most beloved franchises ever made, and when something means that much to people, emotions are naturally going to run high. but i also think it’s important to acknowledge when the franchise actually does something well. disney hasn’t handled everything perfectly, but the recent shows prove there’s still creativity and potential in the star wars universe.
for me personally, the mandalorian made star wars feel enjoyable in a way it never really had before. it felt emotional, cinematic, accessible, and genuinely entertaining without requiring hours of background knowledge. and honestly, i think that’s exactly why it resonated with so many people, even outside the traditional fanbase.
but that's just me.
if you made it this far, are you okay? do you need a glass of water? thank you for reading x
jacobvanloon
gummygunk
stormborns
